Abide

I'm still thinking about my "word" for the year--ABIDE.

It's something I need to learn so badly. It's something I WANT so badly.

Psalm 27
A psalm of David.
1The LORD is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
2When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.
4The one thing I ask of the LORD—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
delighting in the LORD’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the LORD with music.
7Hear me as I pray, O LORD.
Be merciful and answer me!
8My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”
9Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the LORD will hold me close.
11Teach me how to live, O LORD.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
12Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.
13Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14Wait patiently for the LORD.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.


What I love about this scripture, is that the Temple--the sanctuary--the place he hides away with God, is NOT just a place of refuge. David says that he ABIDES there--and THEN when the day of trouble comes, he is safe. I want to abide in God at all times--not just when trouble comes.

I read a scripture today that really made me think about this concept--in terms of "rest". This comes from Hebrews 3:
"For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief."

They were unable to enter rest because of unbelief. Maybe as I study along this year my understanding of abiding will change--but I envision it as a type of rest (and peace and intimacy) in any situation. The Israelites were unable to reach a place of rest because of their unbelief. God, let it not be so about me!

They forced God to prove Himself over and over and over again for 40 years--swaying in between belief and unbelief like a pendulum. I know that God is who He says He is! He can do what He says He can do! I am who He says I am! I can do what He says I can do!

But finding that place of rest and abiding is dependent upon me living that out. Believing when my feelings and emotions aren't quite caught up yet.

As I get prepared to embark on the greatest change I will probably ever experience (adding AJ to our family) I know I will have ample time to practice these principles--to abide in God whether easy or hard, happy or sad, tired or wired, worried or rejoicing, feeling full of faith or doing it afraid.